UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2013/2014
ORDINARY EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 2209 RESEARCH SKILLS AND DESIGN
DATE: AUGUST, 2014 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
a) Define the following terms in the context of research skills and design
i) Hypothesis (2 Marks)
ii) Research question (2 Marks)
iii) Research (2 Marks)
b) Briefly explain three specific aims of conducting of research (4 Marks)
c) Describe three characteristics of a good research (3 Marks)
d) Consider the following list of titles of research projects and decide which projects are
likely to be quantitative or qualitative in nature, and which might be a combination of
both. (6 Marks)
i) The effects of Global warming on climate change in Kenya.
ii) A study to compare the results in school history exams for 16-year-olds
throughout Africa between 1980 and 1990.
iii) A study of how hospital patients‟ recovery is affected by the colour of their
surroundings and of how they react to the effects of different light levels after
major operations.
e) Briefly explain any four benefits of conducting research (4 Marks).
f) Outline 3 pre-data collection steps that need to be done before actual data collection
takes place. (3 Marks)
g) State and explain two categories of data that can be collected during research. give
one example for each case. (4 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
Write brief notes on the importance of the following in undertaking research.
a) Problem Statement
b) Literature Review
c) Scope
d) Objectives [5 Marks Each]
QUESTION THREE
a) Define what a research proposal is (2 Marks)
b) Outline any three sources of data during literature review (3 Marks)
c) Briefly explain any four purposes of conducting literature review in research
d) Describe the importance „code book’ when conducting literature review. (2 mark)
e) State and explain five steps of conducting literature review (10 Marks).
f) State and explain three 3 common organization formats of literature review.
(3 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
a) Outline Five (5), ethical considerations (code of ethics), that you must ensure when
collecting data using interview and/or questionnaires. (10 Marks)
b) Discuss “Plagiarism” (5 Marks)
c) Detail Five (5) ways that you can employ to avoid committing Research Plagiarism.
(5 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
a) Define the following terms commonly used in the research design context. (4 Marks)
i) Population
ii) Sample
b) Describe the following sampling techniques, stating when each is applicable (4 Marks)
i) Random sampling
ii) Stratified sampling
c) Distinguish between the term reliability and accuracy. Give one example for each case
(4 Marks)
d) Use APA or Havard referencing format to write a reference of the following book
(3 Marks)
e) Describe the term ‘ focus group discussions’ in the context of research skills and
design. (2 Marks)
f) Briefly explain any three types of focus group discussions’ (3 Marks)
